Linnaeus understands that Pehr Osbeck really is going to sea again. Linnaeus hopes his health will stand it or even improve, and he gives some advice on medicine that will help him, but not at once. He adds that Osbeck should be cautious with meat and eat porridge.
Linnaeus answers some questions about plants, and reports that he has received some fishes. A student from Värmland has something from Osbeck, but he will give it to Linnaeus after Christmas when he comes to Uppsala.
Linnaeus describes the tree Hernandia, a rare and precious plant. The seeds that Linnaeus got were not good.
If Osbeck wants to collect for the King [Adolf Fredrik] and the Queen [Lovisa Ulrika], he should collect molluscs, insects mounted on needles, and fishes and small animals preserved in spirit.
Linnaeus will publish Osbeck’s observations in the Acta. Magnus Lagerström will himself describe the little parrot. The description of the Mangha tree is inserted in the Species plantarum.
Linnaeus has to go to Court on December 17 and may have to stay there for a couple of months.
Species plantarum is not printed farther than Hexandria. Linnaeus had preferred to have the leaf with Octandria Monogynia ready before Osbeck’s departure, so that he could see his name in print. He can send the leaf to Spain, if he knows the address.
Linnaeus does not understand what species Osbeck means by Osbeckia. The way Osbeck describes it, it must be a Melastoma, but Linnaeus will give another plant the name Osbeckia. Linnaeus sends Osbeck a small specimen, so that they understand each other.